Category: News Desk

Alan Evans Trio Changes Name to Alan Evans’ Playonbrother

AE3 to AEP. While hard to understand at first take, it begins to make sense when you hear it straight from Alan Evans himself. Announced the other day, the Alan Evans Trio has changed their name to Alan Evans’ Playonbrother, effective immediately. Evans explained the why behind the change, saying, “Honestly, I just got tired of people assuming that we were a jazz trio.”

Other than the name Alan Evans Trio, everything else remains intact and on schedule. Beau Sasser and Danny Mayer still make up the other two-thirds of the band and all of the tour dates they scheduled are still on. From a recording standpoint, the guys are heading into the studio as we speak to record the follow-up to Merkaba, an album honored in the Best of 2013. In addition to that, they will also be releasing the transcendental Woodstock Sessions album next week on March 25th. As for touring, the band is getting ready to hit the road with Turkuaz and will be visiting Upstate New York on several occasions (Saratoga Springs on 3/27, Syracuse on 3/28, Rochester on 4/17, and Buffalo on 4/18). With nothing musically changing, there’s nothing more to say but play on!

March 20, 2014
‘Let it Go’ with The Infamous Stringdusters, The Conservation Alliance and Upstate NY

“If you think you can make a difference and the fire is in your soul, go ahead and take your stand and if you can’t, let it go.” – The Infamous Stringdusters

Words of wisdom and truth sung in five-part, heartfelt harmony isn’t preached, but instead, practiced. The Infamous Stringdusters make good on their own philosophy as proceeds from each album sold and every ticket for the Let it Go Album Release Tour is donated, in part, to The Conservation Alliance. According to their website, the mission of The Conservation Alliance “is to engage businesses to fund and partner with organizations to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation values.” The Stringdusters know they can make a difference and creatively found a way to help their fans recognize and contribute to environmental issues brought into awareness by The Conservation Alliance. New Yorkers have two opportunities to see a performance as well as purchase an advanced copy of Let it Go at The Wescott in Syracuse and Club Helsinki in Hudson on March 22 and 23 respectively.

Official album release is slated for April 1 on High Country Recordings. The title track appears last on the disc perhaps making a larger impact of the lyrical stanzas and driving home the philosophical stand point of being true to oneself – a theme weaved throughout Let it Go. Disc opener, “I’ll Get Away” gently nudges the listener in the direction of soothing folk instrumentation and humming the “ohhhh’s” slightly hints at the cohesive as well as expansive string explosions presented within the eleven-track disc.

A naturalistic approach to life themes told in tune using the imagery and temperament of Mother Nature present a dynamic dichotomy. “Where the Rivers Run Cold,” symbolically declaring never giving up in the refrain and “Winds of Change,” where moving on is encouraged, are contrasting emotions just as life and death exists in nature. Gentle picking and soft fiddle bowing add to the sweetly sorrowful ballad of “Rainbows” communicating a simple naivety in daydreaming.

Andy Hall (Dobro), Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Travis Book (upright bass) are no strangers to raising awareness and making a difference. In 2013, the band invited fans, affectionately known as Jamily, on a six-day float trip through the wilderness. The excursion brought water sustainability issues to the forefront in partnership with Patagonia, Klean Kanteen, and Osprey Packs. “Middlefork” was created paying homage to the location of the trip in an instrumental dominated by a fiddle and dobro composition matching music with nature’s soundscapes. Likely brushing off the dust the great outdoors can kick up, surely these boys were left yearning a bit for the Colorado country flare proclaiming “I wanna get mile high/touch the sky/get lost in mountain time.”

The album was recorded at White Star Sound boasting a rustic farm off a dirt road in Virginia. The seclusion and natural surroundings offered an opportunity for The Stringdusters to be present in the music making process; enabling a more focused song crafting and musical stylings seemingly contradictory to their live performances and periodic improvisation, though airy nuances throughout whisper like Father Time plays tricks on the mind.

The Stringdusters have evolved personally and musically. They continue to host The Festy Experience. The fan favorite festival is in its fifth year and will be held October 10-12, 2014. The annual event is held at The Devil’s Backbone Brewery in Nelson County, Virginia. Tickets for the event go on sale coinciding with the album release on April 1 and various package deals will be available.

The self-explanatory, “Light & Love” hits a high note of positive thinking on the metaphorical Universal energy that runs through nature and human emotion. Tales are told in these Infamous Stringdusters tunes of evolving sounds of folk, bluegrass and country jam. Most certainly, the first step in being true to oneself is to Let it Go.

March 20, 2014
KISS and Def Leppard Rocking Across the Country This Summer

KISS and Def Leppard announced a summer tour that will span 42 cities throughout the United States, this summer. The tour will be hitting Upstate, NY for two shows – August 5th at Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the second being on August 13th at Darien Lake Peforming Arts Center.

KISS is entering their 40th year in the music industry and they’re looking to celebrate it the entire year, including being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Although KISS has had many lineup changes throughout the years, Def Leppard has had pretty much the same lineup since the early 80’s.

This tour is also supporting the military with an exclusive presale and discounted tickets for those who have served the country. More information on that can be found at here. Tickets go on sale starting Friday March 21st.

March 19, 2014
Listen Up Punk: Gogol Bordello Tour Across NY

NYC-based gypsy punk rockers Gogol Bordello bring their eclectic sounds to several Upstate favorite spots this summer. Bordello has built a devout following over the past 15 years and these are sure to be hot tickets.

7/11-7-12 Higher Ground, Burlington VT

7/19 The Capitol Theatre, Portchester, NY

7/22 Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park, NY

7/26 Main Street Armory, Rochester, NY

March 19, 2014
Umphrey’s McGee Announces “Similar Skin”

Umphrey’s Mcgee announced yesterday that they will be releasing a new album later this year. The progressive-rock band will release their eighth studio album titled, Similar Skin, on June 10th.

Also announced today is the new album will be released on the bands newly created independent record label, Nothing Too Fancy Music – which is another sign that this band is bending not only genres but inherently changing the rules of the game. The new album includes 11 new songs, some of which have been performed live but never included on a recorded album.

Similar Skin tracklist:

The Linear
Cut The Cable
Hourglass
No Diablo
Similar Skin
Puppet String
Little Gift
Educated Guess
Loose Ends
Hindsight
Bridgeless

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March 19, 2014
Improv Supergroup Meddling Kids to Perform at Silk City in Philadelphia March 19th

Appearing at the Silk City Dinner Bar & Lounge on Wednesday, March 19th is Philadelphia electronic improvisational super group “Meddling Kids”, comprised of Mike Greenfield from Lotus on drums, Clay Parnell from Particle and Brothers Past on electric bass, and Ian McGuire from Sonic Spank on keyboards.

Featuring special guest guitarist Clay Sears, who has toured and recorded with Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, Pharrell Williams, Brittany Spears, and Janet Jackson, among others, this show is sure to be a great night of electronic music improvisation

This show is 21+, with admission $10. Doors open at 9 pm.

March 18, 2014
XRIJF Announces Final Lineup for the 2014 Jazz Fest

After the initial announcement of this year’s XRIJF headliners, Earth, Wind and Fire & Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell being announced earlier this year – the final lineup has now been announced for the 2014 Rochester Jazz Festival.

The final lineup comes after the news of a second show not only being added by promoters but also selling out within minutes, to the Steve Martin and Steep Canyon Rangers event at the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre on June 21st. Also sold-out for this years festival is headliner Earth, Wind and Fire, who will perform at the Kodak Hall Theatre on June 27th.

Highlights from this morning’s announcement include- Brooklyn Based, funk-a-licious, Soulive J.D. Wilkes and the Dirt Daubers at the Abilene Roots & Americana Stage, where they recently had a packed house for their show earlier this year. Brooklyn based Snarky Puppy will be playing the Harro East Ballroom, and the MOHO Collective will perform at the Inn on Broadway. Also added to this year’s list of headliners is Jazz sensation, Buddy Guy.

The full lineup can be downloaded on the XRIJF website and please stay tuned to Music Guide for all your news and live coverage of this years 9 day Jazz festival.

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March 18, 2014
Metal Night declared on Saratoga Springs

Metal Heads in Saratoga Springs will be delighted to hear about METAL NIGHT, Wednesday, March 19^th at Putnam Den.

Mobile Deathcamp, and their vicious guitars, will be headlining the show with local bands Satan Place, Dark Matter, and Jesus Christ and the Hallucinogenic All Stars.

Ohio’s own Mobile Deathcamp has been blowing audiences away since 2008. Todd Evans, known as “Beefcake The Mighty “, formed the band after a six-year stint with metal’s biggest shock bands, GWAR. Bassist Boe Skadeland and drummer Chad Smith teamed up with Evans to form this musical terror packet.

Deathcamp’s music has been described by critics as “not overly flashy” and devoid of “self-indulgent, ego-stroking pretense” and a sound that will “blow your mind” with aggressive growls and a rhythm section that induces action from the crowd.

Satan Place describes their own music as heavy ‘groove’ metal. They have an even measurement of old school metal combined with newer elements currently arising in the metal genre. As for their inspiration to play, Satan Place took to their Facebook to say, “We play because we all enjoy creating music and just simply melting faces.”

Jesus Christ and the Hallucinogenic All Stars are directly from Saratoga Springs. The band, described as heavy and psychedelic, gained local notoriety in 2011 when they organized a flash mob on Caroline Street as they performed from the back of a truck.

Doors open at 8 pm with performers starting at 9 pm. Tickets at the door for attendees 18 and older. Prices start at $7 for 21 and over and $12 for underage. Putnam Den is located at 63A Putnam Street.

March 18, 2014
Bobaflex with Tantric at Bogie’s

Named after the iconic bounty hunter from the original Star Wars arch, Bobaflex and the music it plays is just as keenly adept to bad-assery.

Bobaflex to play Bogies in Albany on Thursday, along with Tantric. The boys travel to Syracuse the following night. (Photo Credit: New Ocean Media)

Those familiar with George Lucas’ mythology are also aware of the lack of respect bestowed upon the anti-hero, Boba Fett. That lack of respect, is an unfortunate fate also familiar to the band. The introduction to their latest release, Charlatan’s Way, is a dramatization of an actual voice message the band received several years ago from an agent.

“You know out West, they have a name for your kind: Working Class Trash. You don’t come from shit. You ain’t never gonna be shit… You think because cause you pissed in Gatorade bottles, lived off the Dollar Menu and played the dirt circuit, that it’s your time? Heh. It’s over. It never began. An intelligent person would just give up!”

Bassist Jerod Mankin said, the monologue is taken “pretty much at verbatim.”

Mankin was not asked to reveal a name, as he said, it’s not worth dwelling on the negative. Today, married and still touring, he considers himself successful. “If you can say you are happy and personally satisfied, I consider that a success.”.

On Thursday, March 20th, this five-piece nu-metal band out of West Virginia travels well north of the Mason-Dixon line to share a playbill with Tantric at Bogie’s in Albany, and venture off to Syracuse to play Monirae’s the following night.

The band has a reputation for relentlessly touring throughout a career that has spanned for the better part of two decades. Hitting the road gets the needed face time with fans. And, while on stage, they are one of the liveliest performers in music.

They are currently on a promotional tour that has included more than 100 stops. Charlatan’s Way, their sixth studio album, was released last September. The first single, “Bad Man,” charted at No. 33 on the Active Rock Radio charts in the United States and has since been followed by “I’m Glad Your Dead.”

Bobaflex advertises as a Nu Metal band, akin to Korn and Limp Bizkit. But, this release comes across as good ‘ol fashion rock, complete with an edgy bass, a generous supply of drums, and racy lyrics that Mankin nearly sounds apologetic. “It’s a little bit racy for what people care,” he said. “It didn’t come out purposely, it just came out that way.” What immediately comes to mind is the track “School for Young Ladies,” providing the description of a young woman in traditional schoolgirl outfit, and the events that surround her.

In its entirety, Charlatan’s Way is the kind of CD you throw in and don’t take out until the last few notes of “Rogue” are done playing. From beginning to end, Bobaflex announces what it is, and is unashamed about it. Machismo lyrics always have a place in Rock – it’s what I grew up on, listening to Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Warrant, and there will always be a place for it. If that’s wrong than I don’t want to be right.

March 18, 2014
Crosby, Stills, and Nash Embarking on July Tour

Crosby, Stills, and Nash have announced a July tour that will see New York get three shows. On July 3rd, the legendary trio will hit the original site of Woodstock at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

They have played the venue a few times since it has been opened, but it is always a treat to see an original performer of the festival play on the hollowed grounds. A few days later on July 8th and 9th, they will be making a stop at The Beacon Theatre for the only two night stand of the tour. They will be playing songs from all of their entire discography as well as brand new music. They will be joined by a backing band consisting of Shane Fontayne (guitar), Steve DiStanislao (drums), Kevin McCormick (bass), James Raymond (keyboards), and Todd Caldwell (organ). Tickets will be going on sale soon.

March 17, 2014